Gabryluk approved as Dieruff's new basketball coach

"I'm eager to get going," the 58-year-old Gabryluk said. "I've coached basketball all of my life and I hated to leave coaching. But I took an administration job out of necessity [he has been the assistant principal at Pennridge since 2003] and now I'm real happy to get back to basketball. I still have great passion for the game."

Dieruff athletic director Tim Geiger said Dieruff had 15 applicants for the job and brought back two others for third interviews. He didn't mention names, but those two were believed to be former Dieruff star player and current Pocono Mountain East assistant Anthony Ross and Muhlenberg assistant coach Mark Lesko.

Geiger said the recommendation committee liked Gabryluk's experience as a coach and the staff he talked about assembling.

That staff will include Steve Hammel, a former Dieruff assistant in the 1980s when Dan Kemeter was the coach, as well as his brother, Greg. He'd also like to add some Dieruff alums to the staff.

"Dieruff has tradition," Gabryluk said. "I played against Dieruff and coached against Dieruff. I know what Dieruff kids are all about. I know the type of kids they have. I know the mentality. I know the challenges they face and can relate to them. I can't get wait to get to know them and I think they will like the passion, intensity and dedication we're going to bring to this program."

Geiger said he will introduce Gabryluk to the kids early next week.

Gabryluk thanked school officials and the school for conducting "a thorough and professional" interview process.

Gabryluk said he wanted to get started right away and begin the evaluation process. He intended to get the Huskies into the Allentown City Summer League and tournaments at Cedar Beach this summer and learn as much as he could as fast as possible.

"The goal is to win immediately," he said.

Dieruff was just 2-20 last season and 1-13 in the Lehigh Valley Conference.

Current Comments

"we want someone who can relate to our kids and help them out in the best way possible" Mr. Tim Giger, Mr. Monis said this to all who asked about what kind of coach they wanted... NO OFFENSE but a 58 year old white man will never relate to any!!! of the kids.

First of all, I would like to congratulate Steve Gabryluk on being hired, and I wish him the best of look in his new position.

With that being said, I wanted to express my disappointment in the job not being given to Anthony Ross. When you have the opportunity to hire a person like Anthony who went to Dieruff, scored over 1000 points, won a district title, had a successful college career, has coaching experience at a winning program, is young, is black, is energetic, passionate, and can relate to the type kids Dieruff has... you CANNOT pass that up. Dieruff had the opportunity to have their basketball program in GREAT hands for a long period of time, and they blew it in my opinion.

Posted By: Kyle Kostic | Apr 22, 2010 10:38:14 PM

he can related to the kids because he didnt go through the stuff the kids want through how is he going to related.....

I hope he is right and he knows what Dieruff kids are all about. However, I have been there all my life and I have not figured them out. I do sincerely hope the kids respond positively to Grabryluk and succeed. They do have enough talent coming back to win some games, if they work hard in the off season and stay together. Good luck to all the Huskies and the new Coach.

Posted By: UncleD | Apr 22, 2010 10:49:18 PM

He has credentials but are you KIDDING me. Anthony Ross was in front of their face and they passed him up! another stupid decision by the people in charge. Way to flop again. maybe this guy can be the schools puppet. I give it to Stoudt he worked hard but he did things his way. This is another disappointment.

Posted By: Dieruff09 | Apr 22, 2010 11:14:12 PM

WELL YOU NOW WHY THAT DECISION WAS MADE. HIS WIFE A PRINCIPAL AT TREXLER MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE ALLENTOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT. WIFE WORK WITH THE PRINCIPAL AT DIERUFF WHEN HE WAS AT SOUTH MOUNTAIN .WIFE GOOD FRIEND WITH THE PEOPLE DOWN TOWN WHAT IS THERE TO EXPECT. ALLENTOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT NOT WHAT YOU KNOW BUT WHO .GOOD LUCK DIERUFF AND GOOD LUCK COACH. WHAT A JOKE!!!!!!!!!!

Posted By: DAVE | Apr 22, 2010 11:56:01 PM

oh my god and his over all record from three schools was 176-179 yea they are moving in a different direction for sure..

Posted By: DAVE | Apr 23, 2010 12:08:23 AM

THE MORNING CALL SHOULD SHOW DIERUFF HOW TOO HIRE COACHES THEY HIRE A GOOD SPORTSWRITER FROM DIERUFF.NAME MR GROLLER.

Posted By: DAVE | Apr 23, 2010 2:11:49 AM

maybe this coach will take the players to the nba 5th round draft. next year..?????????????

Posted By: dieruff 1982 | Apr 23, 2010 2:16:03 AM

seth stoudt should go to another school where they appreciate him.he's the only player they have .

Posted By: dieruff 1982 | Apr 23, 2010 2:18:26 AM

they wonder why we don't give back to dieruff .ok

Posted By: dieruff 1972 | Apr 23, 2010 2:19:50 AM

I WILL NOT BE PLAYING NEXT YEAR .WE NEED YOUNG COACHES WHO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE NEED AND WHATS GOING ON IN OUR LIVES.I DON'T SEE US BEING ANY BETTERThe goal is to win immediately," he said.HE REALLY DON'T KNOW JACK .THEY THE GUYS ARE MAD ALREADY.HE SHOULD RETIRE ALREADY.THAT WOULD BE THE BEST FOR THE BASKETBALL PLAYERS AT DIERUFF TIME TO TRANSFER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted By: dieruff 2011 | Apr 23, 2010 2:30:26 AM

HE'S NOT THE PEOPLES CHOICE OR PLAYERS.

Posted By: dieruff 2011 | Apr 23, 2010 2:34:08 AM

Things will fall. And fall hard. Word on the street is ant ross had a dieruff alum and a former dieruff coach on his staff. Oh but they werent good enough, 35 yrs old aint old enough. Also with a mixture of younger coaches in the area..smh!!!!!!! I just dont get it. Yall didnt let anthony down cause he seen the big picture. It was about the community, and the kids. Anthony will get what he deserves in the coaching ranks one day.. But what a great way to tell ur schools all time leading scorer, a college coach, high school coach, a proven role model in this community, and college GRADUATE no thanks.. Karma is a bitch, and its crazy that the kids have to be a part of something they had no control over.. Do u really think a 58 yr old man is gonna be able to endure they ups and downs that come with dealing with minority kids daily. And they wonder why Ants been in the poconos coaching for 5 yrs. They dont embrace their own down here!! Good Luck in the future.. Sike Good Luck losing every game until the athletic program is rebuilt inside and out.. Hold ur head Boy!!

Posted By: EZ Pass | Apr 23, 2010 7:09:58 AM

Does everyone reading the comments on this blog notice a pattern of poor spelling, punctuation, capitalization and total lack of penmanship?

Do those commenting realize that going to school is a requirement but being part of a sports program is a privilege.

The privileged did not get the 'warden' they wanted to run the program.

This could be a blessing in disguise!

If the privileged feel so slighted, then there is extra time to hit the books and become useful members of society, not if but after graduation!

I am not taking any side on the situation. However, look at the facts. Anthony Ross was the top candidate for the job, but something along the way made Dieruff change their mind. Obviously something in his interview, whether it was his attitude, plans for the future, or strategies really rubbed the commitee the wrong way. Anthony is a stand up guy, but his goal is to be coaching at the college level. Dieruff was merely a stepping stone for him to do that and maybe his motives were obvious, was he in it for the long haul??? Again, not choosing sides, just trying to help people understand. Gabryluk is retiring which means he has a lot of time to devote to a basketball program. Maybe that appealed to the commitee. On the other hand if they want someone in it for the long stretch, why would they not bring in someone young? On another note; color, age, basketball ability, and relation to the players do not mean that much. Across town there is a man by the name of Doug Snyder who went to Princeton and graduated from Allen way back when and certainly does not "relate" to his players. However, when the leadership is appropriate the players respect structure, discipline, and someone that is there for them. They need loyalty, not someone that is going to feel sorry for them and relate, but someone that is going to be empathetic and make the kids better human beings.

Let's just support both Dieruff and Allen. Let's be there for them and cheer them on. The last thing both places need is negative attention, they get that enough already. Stay Positive!

Posted By: Alumni | Apr 23, 2010 8:34:16 AM

blessing in disguise! YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME THIS GUYS RECORD SPEAKS FOR HIM SELF 176-179 .THREE SCHOOLS .HIS NEW ATHLETIC DIRECTOR FROM NORTHAMPTON.NEW COACH FROM NORTHAMPTON OR COACH THERE.IF THOSE THREE SCHOOLS GOT RID OF HIM WHAT THE HECK DOES DIERUFF WANT WITH HIM.PEOPLE WANT CHANGE .

Posted By: HELLO | Apr 23, 2010 9:10:22 AM

Snyder understands his players and what its like to go to Allen no matter when he went there. You fire stoudt because he doesnt relate then bring in this guy! if Ross was the coach you couldve expected a huge turnout. now they are going to lose any talent they have. Ross was young and kids wanted him to coach dieruff. who is happy by this? most alumni and players dont like this choice. It makes the AD and principal happy because they have someone that will listen to them. First they force Brader out and now this! This is like turning Andre Reed down for the WR coach position. ARE you kidding! If your going to get rid of stoudt who was consistent you better shake the program up and rebuild. This is not doing anything. This guy will be here for what 4-5 years! And this is a blog not a term paper grammer is not important here so either put an opinion or dont read the comments.

Posted By: Dieruff09 | Apr 23, 2010 9:28:12 AM

And he had the nerve to say he understand Dieruff players because he coached against them! the first time walking the halls was in his interview! Just like Jake Williams understand the football team a few years back and drove the team into the ground with 19 players left. Those kids need someone they look up too and guess what, Ross used to be one of those kids!!! Dieruff needs a change at the top,the person making these decisions needs to go.

Posted By: Dieruff09 | Apr 23, 2010 9:30:48 AM

I too am a bit disappointed and puzzled by this hiring.

However, I must also agree with an earlier comment about some of the spelling and grammar in some of the replies. Amazing.

It kind of makes pitt6rings look like a rocket scientist compared to the writing style of some on here.

About coach Snyder... you have to remember it was a YOUNG coach Snyder who coached at Princeton High School in NJ before coming to Allen. The teams he coached were predominantly minority. When he got the Allen job he was STILL young, AND he was experienced in the situations he was going to encounter.

Now you have coach Gabryluk who is 58 years old, has coached at Northampton, Catasauqua and Northwestern, and has had an administrative job at Pennridge for the last 8 years. I'm not sure if the type of kids and the type of situations he has dealt with at those schools is has prepared him for what he is going to encounter at Dieruff. It's a totally different demographic. I could see this being a good fit if he was dealing with city kids for most of his career, but not for a 58 year man with his background.

Again I wish coach Gabryluk the best and I hope he does well, but I still feel Dieruff made the wrong choice in not hiring Anthony Ross

Posted By: Kyle Kostic | Apr 23, 2010 10:26:31 AM

Whats done is done... Anthony only really has the ambition to coach college because of the politics that go into high school athletics. He told me this years ago. And at one point i thought he was full of it!! But the proof is in the pudding. He would of loved to stay around the area and coach for the rest of his life. He has a 10 yr old daughter who resides in allentown. This was not just for him it was for everyone who wanted to be involved in changing the makeup of our community and attitude of the kids.. They gravitate to him.. Check him out!! Every kid he has coached has tremendous respect for him and his beliefs. PM East has sent kids to college each year he's been coaching in the poconos. More than every team in the whole district XI A-AAAA The kids wanna do good, they just need a true solution!! He was it, name someone better?? But u gotta move on and pray that the kids get what they deserve from here on out.. Canaries still rule!!! hahaha

Posted By: OOOHHH | Apr 23, 2010 11:00:19 AM

I'd like to ask a few questions about Anthony Ross?
It seems like he graduated from Dieruff a long time ago. What was he doing for an education and what credentials can he show for that education. It seems like he's been on that bench at PME for a long time. Is he only waiting for the Dieruff job or are there some 'issues' as to why he didn't or can't get a head coaching job?? We all know because of this litigous society, no one can ever be truthful on why he was rejected?? Just a Question??

Posted By: Out of Curiosity | Apr 23, 2010 11:10:43 AM

Its what god wanted yall!! Please respect there decision as it is. He got the job because they feel he was the best man for the job. Life goes on. We will all be told no at some point in our lives. This is just one of those times for me. Wish him good luck.. He loves this game too. We gotta except it.

Posted By: Anthony Ross | Apr 23, 2010 2:01:46 PM

I hope the above comment was NOT the real Anthony Ross, because, if it is, the grammar and verbage alone speaks volumes why he was not hired.

Posted By: BabaBooey | Apr 23, 2010 2:48:42 PM

I am a East Sider I see what goes on at Irving Street, but You people from Dieruff, Here we go again Oh the poor kids they are a victim of there surroundings, bull. Get kids that want to play that are dedicated and work at it. Success breeds Success. Get kids that want to play that don't have a excuse why they can't do something. Apparently Dieruff is in this mess not only cause you liberal hearts want to blame society but also because of the Good Old Boys Club that has ruined that Athletic Department. Now the powers to be have realized this are making changes bringing in people from the outside who can change things and all you do is cry about it give the guy a chance. You don't need a bud or one of the boys you need a coach teacher a mentor not a social worker or a bud.
You people sit and complain I am quitting the kids are victims. How many show up and support these kids I was at a football game this year and could count 15 people in the stands. Your football coach said in a article this week he only new about 5 parents or guardians of his players. About time you start doing some self examining. Thre are a lot of boy and girl atheletes that have transferred or not enroled in Dieruff because of all the crap you let go on there. I applauded the AD and principle for going outside the box.

Posted By: eastsider | Apr 23, 2010 3:29:14 PM

The individual dieruff09 is correct when he says that this indeed is a blog and not a term paper. However, the general consensus is those who read the paper (or in this case the online blog) should be educated enough to correctly formulate an idea into a sentence with the correct spelling, punctuation and grammar. Its called "writing like an adult". These simple errors in composition show lack of credibility.

Posted By: thebingobangoman | Apr 23, 2010 4:06:45 PM

this decision was all a bail out!... from the time when they fired Stoudt, till now.. Mr Giger and Stoudt have been bumping heads for sometime now, and when given the chance Giger fired him... HE IS SCARED FOR HIS OWN JOB. now again put in charge of something decided to hire some old white man from NORTHAMPTON, NORTHWESTER, predominatly white area and screw stoudt over,,,, ALL BECAUSE HE IS SCARED.

Posted By: 610FINEST | Apr 23, 2010 10:32:00 PM

the decision was made, we cannont fault Mr. Gabryluk for something he had no control over. I am not saying i agree or disagree but all my team and i can do is give it 100% everyday.. Talking to a few teamates alot have accepted the decision and relized what was made is made and we just want to get things going and starting playing.

Posted By: Seth Stoudt | Apr 23, 2010 10:53:33 PM

Wow. This is the most racist string I've ever seen on your blog, Keith, and OneWhoKnows didn't even post a comment on it.

Gabryluk's record is not great overall, but if you remove his years at Northampton, it's actually pretty impressive. He does know the game, and in that regard he is a good choice for this position.

As to whether or not he can relate to the kids at Dieruff, that will depend largely on one thing - will the kids let him? Will they give him the opportunity to show them how he can help them improve into a decent basketball program? Or will they give him the "Stupid old white man, I ain't takin' none of his s--t!"? If they do the first, they will learn and likely improve. Do the latter, and they deserve all they get.

Dieruff doesn't need a social worker coaching their basketball team. They don't necessarily need a black man doing it either. They need someone who knows basketball. They have one. It's now up to the boys.

Posted By: smallsan | Apr 25, 2010 10:13:58 PM

They now have someone that knows basketball? Stoudt knew basketball. They now have someone that values discipline? Stoudt valued this more than anything. Seems like something went wrong in the interview process and now Moniz and his "yes men" are all kicking themselves.

Posted By: nicetry | Apr 26, 2010 4:58:44 PM

nicetry, nice try reading what I wrote. Read it again (slowly) and see if you come up with the word order that you originally thought. The comment. And, maybe, give us a name???

Posted By: smallsan | Apr 26, 2010 10:28:31 PM

Screaming and yelling does not translate into discipline

Posted By: Outsider | Apr 27, 2010 8:13:12 AM

It is shame that is all you saw. The former coach did a lot for the players at DHS. Coach worked his butt off organizing team meals, taking them to college games, talking with them about their future, getting rides for them and trying to instill a sense of responsibility. Yes he did yell a lot, but most of them understood he cared for them, and only wanted them to succeed in life and on the court. As for discipline there were expectations set and were clear, 90% of the player got it and the ones that did not usually decided to go their own way. As for the new Coach I hope he has more success on the floor without losing sense of responsibility coach Stoudt instilled in them. Hopefully it works out for all, Coach Stoudt at another program, Coach Gabryluk at DHS and Coach Ross wherever he decides to coach.

Posted By: UncleD | Apr 27, 2010 4:35:11 PM

To Geiger no Dieruff sport is a one year turnaround. That's obvious. So why not go with a young enthusiastic coach? sure this guy has 20 years on Ross but that's it. Nothing else puts him over the top. Experience isn't going to bring Dieruff to mediocre. Someone to harness the talent at the school will. Once again the people making the decisions need to go.

I think that anybody has the right to express themselves. When schools limit what students can wear, and how they choose to present themselves, it doesn't have a very good affect on the students. Honestly, what's the big deal about someone's hair being green? Blue? or Purple? Absolutely nothing. People may be shocked seeing it, but they will eventually get over it. I think that when school officials say that dying your hair an unnatural color, or having a facial piercing disrupts others education, it's stupid. I honestly don't see how it does that. I believe that EVERYONE has the right to express themselves. At my school, they have prohibited all facial piercing and any hair color other than Brown, Blonde, Red, and possibly Black. It's ridiculous. There needs to be a change.

Why is everyone surprised? Every single coaching position given this summer in the LV and around has been a joke. It's all about politics and ADs who think more about their own career than the students/athletes. Dieruff, Bangor, Salisbury, Nolehi and more... So many young talented coaches left on the sideline and old fashioned coaches hired. That's the way it is, everywhere and in every sport.

Posted By: Not surprised | Jul 23, 2012 3:30:05 PM

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